Kent · England
Live paella catering in Horsmonden, Kent
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Horsmonden and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Staff parties and work lunches
Planning an event in Horsmonden?
How our paella catering works in Horsmonden
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there is very little waste, and the food arrives hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We’re frequently asked to cater family celebrations and christenings and birthday celebrations, serving seafood paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a hamlet or village like Horsmonden, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Nearby places to Horsmonden
What else we do in Horsmonden
How we price paella catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The length of service
- Parking and unloading
Larger events normally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Mention any other courses or food
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Your questions about paella catering in Horsmonden
Do you cater in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you come out to small places like Horsmonden?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
What happens with live paella?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Horsmonden.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Perfect for your event in Horsmonden
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Anniversary celebrations
For guests coming by train, Paddock Wood station is about 3.4 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- Payment terms and deposit
- When final numbers are due
- A clear list of what’s included
- VAT, if it applies
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
Live paella or other catering?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Paella catering around Horsmonden
Horsmonden is about 7 miles east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Horsmonden and nearby villages. We cater in all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 30 miles away.
Historic houses near Horsmonden include Scotney Castle (3.4 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Horsmonden Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Horsmonden, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cater events across the TN12 postcode area and the streets around it. From Morley Drive, Woodgate Mews and Back Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Hazel Street (1 mile south-west), Capel Cross (1 mile south-east), Broad Ford (1 mile south-east), Palmer's Green (1 mile north-west) and Castle Hill (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (10 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (14 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (7 miles west), Tonbridge (8 miles north-west), Kings Hill (9 miles north) and Foley Park (11 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Tunbridge Wells Hospital (5.3 miles west) and Finchcocks Musical Museum (2.5 miles south).
- Nearby, you will find The Highwayman pub (less than half a mile west)
What happens on the day
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. Evenings in Horsmonden stay light until about 9:15pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:00pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Horsmonden? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff